Q: If NASCAR allowed you to listen to music while you were racing, would you want to?

A: Absolutely not. One time when we were down somewhere testing and it was really boring for a couple days, I tried listening to a little mp3 player. And it was so distracting! When you'd go on the racetrack with that thing playing, it was like you were in outer space. So you'd just have to turn it off.

It was fine in the garage, but when you were on the racetrack, it was drowning out the noise of the race car and you just couldn't hear it. It felt like you were completely disconnected from the car.

Q: Where did your first paycheck come from?

A: First real paycheck or like cash money? Because I worked for cash for a long time when I was a kid.

Like for your dad (who owned clam boats and raced)?

Yeah, whatever I could do. Sweeping the floor in the shop or going down to the boat docks and painting stuff. Whatever I could do to make some money to go race with, that's what I was doing.

When I first started getting an actual paycheck, I think it wasn't until I started going out on the clam boats and fishing, you know? Up until then it was just cash.

I was about 16. But I was younger than 10 when I'd start going down to the docks and painting stuff and cleaning.

You probably don't understand what the bilge of an old clam boat is like, right?

Nope.

Well, I remember one time, me and my cousin had to go clean it when we were 8 or 10. We probably cleaned it all day long and got paid like $20. (Laughs) It was horrible! But it was worth the money when we were done.

Q: Who is an autograph you got as a kid that seemed to be a big deal to you at the time?

A: Honestly, I've never been a big autograph person — even when I was little, for some reason. The only one I can actually remember getting was Dale Earnhardt.

I can't remember exactly where it was. I think we were at Pocono when I was a kid — I can't even remember if it was Pocono, it was so long ago — but we were walking by a souvenir hauler or a race hauler and we'd asked them if they had anything autographed. And somebody brought a card out that was signed.

So I don't even know if it was real, and I don't remember if it was a real race hauler. But that's the only time I've ever gotten an autograph in my whole life.

Q: Where's a place you've never been that you'd like to go visit?

A: I really want to go to Alaska and do some fishing. You hear how nice it is and everything, so I'd love to go there and check it out.

Q: Do people ever accuse you of being addicted to your phone?

A: Yes. Sherry (Pollex, his girlfriend) does, but she only says that when she's not on hers. (Laughs)

Of course! We all are. I mean, you go to a restaurant nowadays and everyone is sitting there like this (imitates someone with their head down, typing) waiting for their food. So absolutely, I can't go anywhere without it.

Q: If a genie promised you a championship in exchange for never being able to do your favorite hobby again, would you accept that offer?

A: I don't think so. My hobbies are going to be here the rest of my life. Those are the things I want to do when I retire. Those are the things that are going to keep me sane when I'm not racing. So I would say no.

Q: What's your preferred method of dealing with an angry driver after a race?

A: I'm not confrontational, so I like to sweep it under the rug. (Laughs) And just hope it doesn't come up again.

Q: Do you ever get mistaken for another driver or celebrity?

A: I don't. The only time I got mistaken for somebody is one time, years ago, somebody thought I was Tony Stewart.

Q: If you had a time machine and you could travel to any year and race, where would you go?

A: Definitely in the '70s. The Cup cars were just so awesome back then. When you watch them on TV — like last week we were watching the '79 Daytona 500 — and those cars were just so cool. They were really fast, to run around here and qualify in the mid-to-upper 190s without a restrictor plate in a big, boxy car.

It would be fun to get in one of those and see what that felt like and what those guys really raced like. It's pretty fun to watch; I can't imagine how fun it was to actually drive those things.

Q: Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?

A: I've always wanted to be able to fly, so I'd have to pick that one. But you've got to admit, being invisible would be pretty stealthy. It would be awesome. You could do a lot of stuff.

But being able to fly just seems like you'd be able to do more. You could be invisible, but I feel like you'd get bored with it after awhile.

Q: I've been asking each person to give me a question for the next interview. The last interview was with Tony Stewart, and he wanted to know what you thought drivers would think of the new rules package.

A: I think most guys are going to like it. I think there's going to be a few guys who might not. Most guys really did well with the old stuff and may not like it as well, but I think the racing should be better — hopefully it will be.

So far, I like what I've seen with it. I liked the feel of it better than what we had last year, so that's a good thing for me. Across the board, I think most guys will like it.

Q: And do you have a question I can ask the next driver?

A: Well, let's take one from the fans: Have you ever gone to the bathroom in the race car?

Q: Finally, how did this interview go on a scale of 1-10?

A: I thought it was a 10. I thought it was pretty good. Good questions, and really good answers. (Laughs)

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Martin Truex Jr, born June 29, 1980 in Trenton, N.J., hails from a racing family. His younger brother Ryan currently races in Sprint Cup, and his father Martin Truex Sr., uncle Barney and cousin Curtis Truex Jr. are former racers at various lower levels.
Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship with a win in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The victory was his eighth of the season.
Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates after winning the 2017 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. The win was Truex's second on the season at Kansas, third win in the playoffs and seventh win overall.
Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. and his crew, which performed nearly flawlessly during the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 8, 2017, celebrate his win at Charlotte Motor Speedway to kick off the second round of the playoffs. The win was his sixth of the year.
Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. does a victory burnout after leading 392 of 400 laps -- and 588 miles -- in winning the 2016 Coca-Cola 600. Truex broke Jim Paschal’s 1967 record for the most laps led in the 600 (335).
Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports

With a third-place finish at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2015, Martin Truex Jr. became the first driver since Richard Petty in 1969 to record 14 top-10 finishes in the first 15 races of a season.
Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports

Martin Truex Jr. walks out with his team before the 2014 Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Truex qualified for the race with his victory at Sonoma Raceway the previous year.
Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports